JOHN FLETCHER LEOPOLD EMBURY.
 


	John Fletcher Leopold Embury, who twenty-one years ago took up the
practice of law in Regina, has risen steadily in the profession until he
is now judge of the Supreme court, having received appointment to the
bench when in overseas service during the Great war. His birth occurred
at Thomasburg, in the county of Hastings, Ontario, on the 10th of No-
vember, 1875, his parents being Allen and Frances R. (Kecheson) Em-
bury.  The father was a native of Adoiphustown, Ontario, while the
mother was born in Moira, Ontario, in which province their marriage
was celebrated.  Both were of United Loyalist stock.  Allan Embury
was identified with educational interests throughout his active life as a
teacher and school inspector. He gave his political support to the Liberal
party, while his religious faith was that of the Anglican church. Their
two living children are: John Fletcher Leopold of this review; and Win-
fred, the latter being manager of the Union Bank at Macleod, Alberta.
	John F. L. Embury pursued his studies in the Brampton high school
and in Toronto University and when his more specifically literary educa-
tion was completed he entered Osgoode Hall as a law student, receiving
the degree of LL. B. from that institution in 1902. In the same year he
was admitted to the bar and began practice at Barrie, Ontario, in part-
nership with Donald Ross but in 1903 he came west to Regina, Saskatche-
wan, where he entered into association with W. B. Watkins.  He
afterward became a member of the well known firm of Elwood, Embury,
Scott & Graham, barristers and solicitors, and he has remained an active
representative of the legal profession in Regina during the past twenty-
one years, save for the time when military duties took him overseas.
Not only in professional but in business circles was his ability manifest
and he became a director of a number of corporations.
	The military chapter in the life record of Judge Embury is a most
interesting one.  He was a lieutenant in the Ninety-fifth Saskatchewan
Rifles when the regiment volunteered in August; 1914, for service in the
Great war, and in the following October he was given command thereof.
The troops trained in Winnipeg were sent overseas in May, 1915, and
reached France the following November.  They remained on European
soil until May, 1919, spending eighteen months of the time in England.
Judge Embury came home in 1918 to undergo an operation but after a
brief period rejoined his regiment and remained overseas until May,
1919. He had been promoted to the rank of brigadier general on the 1st
of November, 1916, commanding the Thirteenth Brigade, Fifth Division,
and was sent to France as scrutineer of the Unionist party, which post
he held until January, 1917, when he was placed in command of the Sec-
ond Brigade.  Subsequently he was chosen to organize the Canadian
section of general headquarters of British headquarters in France.  He
was appointed judge of the Supreme court while in service and was sworn
in when he returned home for an operation. His mind, during the entire
period of his course at the bar and on the bench, has been directed in
the line of his profession and his duty. To wear the ermine worthily it
is not enough that one possess legal acumen, is learned in the principles
of jurisprudence, familiar with precedents and thoroughly honest. Many
men, even when acting uprightly, are wholly unable to divest themselves
of prejudice and are unconsciously warped in their judgments by their
own mental characteristics or educational peculiarities.  This uncon-
scious and variable disturbing force enters more or less into the judg
ments of all men, but in the ideal jurist this factor becomes so small as
not to be discernible in results and loses its potency as a disturbing force.
Judge Embury is exceptionally free from all judicial bias.
	On the 10th of August, 1904, at Barrie, Ontario, Judge Embury was
united in marriage to Miss Dora A. Williams, daughter of E. E. Williams
of that city. Judge and Mrs. Embury have four children: Francis Owen,
who is attending school in Toronto; Alan, who is a pupil in the Collegiate
Institute at Regina; Dorotha Elizabeth, attending the Separate school in
Regina; and Eyton, a public school pupil.
	Judge Embury is  a Conservative in politics and was a candidate for
the Legislature on two different occasions but met defeat. He became a
member of the first Collegiate Institute board of Regina and also of the
first public library board. His religious faith is indicated by his member-
ship in the Anglican church, while fraternally he is identified with the
Masons, and his appreciation for the social amenities of life is manifest
in his connection with the Wascana Country Club and the Assiniboia
Club.  lie is likewise a member of the Western Military Institute of
Winnipeg and the Junior Army & Navy Club of London, England.  A
man of varied interests, broad culture and eminent ability, his record
reflects credit and honor upon the judicial history of the province.




Bibliography follows: